Anniversary Takes Toll on Officials

If the toll-booth collectors on the San Joaquin Hills Transportation Corridor seemed uneasy about doling out change during the Friday morning commute, that’s because they were.

Instead of the regular clerks, public officials were in the toll booths. They even shook hands with drivers, who realized soon enough who was accepting their tolls.

“As I fumbled around with change and I couldn’t get the green light to go on, I didn’t want them to think I was a real toll-booth collector,” said Peter Buffa, mayor of Costa Mesa and chairman of the board of the San Joaquin Hills Transportation Corridor Agency.

Buffa and other officials were celebrating a milestone. A year ago Friday, the 15-mile toll road opened connecting Newport Beach with the Santa Ana Freeway in San Juan Capistrano. About 55,000 motorists drive the tollway every day, spending 25 cents to $2 for a one-way trip.

Ridership has not matched initial projections of 94,500 daily drivers, but Paul Glaab, a spokesman for the toll road, said the number of motorists increases by 4% to 5% every month.

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One Year Later

A thumbnail sketch of the San Joaquin Hills Transportation Corridor:

* Opened: Nov. 21, 1996

* Length: 15 miles, Newport Beach to San Juan Capistrano

* Average daily ridership: 55,000

* Record ridership: 67,400 (Oct. 31)

* Transponders issued as of October: 123,167

* Rush-hour use of FasTrak automatic toll collection system: 69%

Source: Transportation Corridor Agencies